Room air conditioner air deflector mounting arrangement



1967 w. L. SCHWARTZ ROOM AIR CONDITIONER AIR DEFLECTOR MOUNTINGARRANGEMENT Filed Jply 26, 1965 Y. m m m8 pm WL w A m .mY/ B W UnitedStates Patent 3,306,182 1200M AIR CONDITIONER AIR DEFLECTOR MOUNTKNGARRANGEMENT William L. Schwartz, Franklin Township, Columbus, ()hio,assignor to Westinghouse Electric Corporation, Pittsburgh, Pa., acorporation of Pennsylvania Filed July 26, 1965, Ser. No. 474,614 4Claims. (Cl. 9894) This invention relates generally to a room airconditioner front assembly, and in particular to a mounting arrangementfor an air deflecting panel associated with the conditioned air outletof the air conditioner.

The front assembly to which my invention is most readily applicable isof the type which includes a single tiltable panel for effecting thedesired degree of vertical deflection of the conditioned air beingdischarged from the room air conditioner outlet. The deflector in a unitof this character may be tilted between one extreme air deflectingposition in which it is vertically disposed and a horizontal position inwhich it is substantially out of the outlet air stream. In intermediatepositions and in the vertical position of the deflector, it is desirablethat the bottom edge of the deflector rest firmly upon the wall definingthe bottom side of the air outlet to prevent air from passing below thedeflector. It is also desirable that the deflector, when adjusted to anyselected position by the user, hold in that position Without vibratingor chattering occurring due to the high velocity discharge air strikingthe deflector. Additionally, the deflector should be movable throughoutits tiltable range in a smooth fashion, and should be capable of beingadjusted to a great number of slightly different tilted angles to accordwith the whims of the user.

Accordingly, the object of this invention is the provision of a specifictype of deflector mounting arrangement which possesses the desideratanoted.

I achieve this object by the provision of a mounting arrangementutilizing a formed ribbon spring at each end of the deflector with theribbon spring including a fixed portion carried by and bearing againstthe outlet end wall, and a yieldable portion extending in an arc andterminating in a loop supporting the end of the air deflector. Theyieldable arcuate portion is flexed up and down into and out of atighter are as the loop is correspondingly moved upwardly and downwardlyby the manual tilting movement of the deflector, with the spring beingdisposed to exert a downward force upon the deflector sufficient tomaintain the deflector bottom edge against the bottom side of the airoutlet.

The details of my mounting arrangement will be best perceived inconnection with the accompanying drawing illustrating one form of roomair conditioner embodying my invention by way of example, and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a partly-broken isometric view of the front of a room airconditioner of the type having a deflector to which my invention isapplicable, this view showing the deflector in a horizontal position;

FIG. 2 is a similar isometric view showing the deflector in a verticalposition;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, partly-broken, exploded isometric view showingdetails of the mounting arrangement for an end of the deflector; and

FIG. 4 is an elevational view of an end wall of the outlet with theribbon spring and leaf spring installed in a recess in the outlet endwall and further illustrating the ribbon spring in several alternateflexed positions.

Before proceeding with the description, it is to be understood that thegeneral scheme of the front assembly structure illustrated and to whichmy invention is principally applicable is a result of the exercise ofthe inventive faculties of others than myself. However, a generalized"ice description of the character of certain parts, and theirrelationship to each other will facilitate an appreciation of myinvention.

The front assembly of FIGS. 1 and 2 includes a peripheral frame 10suitably secured to the peripheral edge of the room-side face of the airconditioner casing 12. The side edges and the bottom edge of the frame10 are provided with forwardly-projecting opposite side walls 14 and 16,and a forwardly-projecting bottom Wall 18, respectively. The frontassembly is generally divided into an upper portion designated 20, and alower portion generally designated 22, by a horizontal wall 24 extendingbetween the opposite end walls 14 and 16, and having a depending forwardedge forming the cross-member 26. The bottom portion is provided withface panels 28 and 30 behind which the air conditioner controls, and theevaporator 31 are located. Room air is admitted to the face of theevaporator through appropriately located openings 32 in end wall 16, andother openings 33 in the bottom wall 18.

The upper portion defines the outlet opening for the discharge ofconditioned air from the air conditioner unit, and includes a series ofganged, adjustable vanes 34 for controlling the horizontal pattern ofthe discharge air, and a single tilta-ble deflector 36 for controllingthe vertical path of the air.

The deflector 36 includes an imperforate panel main portion (alsodesignated 36), opposite ends 38 and 4t), and a pair of flanges 42 whichproject rearwardly from the central part of the rear face of the mainportion. The flanges 42 are fastened by pin 44 extending through avertical slot in the stationary central vane 46 so that the centralconnection is pivotal and also movable in a vertical direction.

The deflector 36 is shown in FIG. 1 with its main portion in ahorizontal position permitting the discharge air to pass horizontallyinto the room being conditioned without being deflected upwardly by thedeflector. In FIG. 2 the deflector is shown in a vertical positioncausing the discharge air to be deflected more directly upwardly. Thedeflector may also be moved or tilted to numerous intermediate positionsin which the air is deflected upwardly at some lesser angle from ahorizontal plane by virtue of the pivotal connections between thedeflector ends 38 and 40 and the respectively facing end walls 14 and 16of the outlet.

Before passing to the details of the arrangement for pivotally mountingthe deflector in accordance with the invention, it is noted thatadditional details regarding the front assembly are disclosed in Wegmancopending US. patent application Serial No. 474,615, and Ulich copendingUS. patent application Serial No. 474,597, the inventions of thoseapplications and of this application being assigned to a commonassignee.

Those portions of the end walls 14 and 16 forming the ends of the upperportion 20 are provided with spaced apart walls so that the hollowinterior may be filled with a thermal insulating material 48 (FIG. 3)fitted therein. The central part of the inner face of the end wall 14 iscut-out to provide a rectangular recess or niche 50. This niche receivesa ribbon spring formed into the illustrated shape and which includes astraight, vertical, front leg 52, a straight, horizontal, top leg 54 anda downwardly-bowed, generally diagonally-extending leg 56 whichterminates in a loop end 58. The straight legs are termed the fixedportion of the spring since they remain substantially stationary wheninstalled in the niche, while the arcual portion is being flexed bymovement of the loop in a vertical direction along a line indicated bythe double-headed arrow 60.

The loop 58 pivotally receives the endwise-projecting pivot pin 62 onthe deflector end 38. Movement of the deflector in its range of tiltablemovement causes the loop 58 to move along its vertical path 60 at thefront side of the niche. The ribbon spring in its initially formed,unrestrained shape is about as shown in FIG. 3 so that it may be simplypressed into the niche and will remain there without further fasteningmeans. In this installed position the front leg 52 extends along thefront side of the niche, the top leg 54 extends along the top side ofthe niche, and the flexible portion extends with a downwardly-directedbow from the top rear corner to a location adjacent the bottom frontcorner of the niche. When the deflector is moved to a position causingthe loop to be displaced upwardly, the bowed portion of the springyields by being flexed into a tighter arc, and this flexing results inthe loop exerting a corresponding downwardlydirected force on the pivotpin 62 and hence through the deflector as a whole to press the bottomedge of the deflector against the outlet bottom wall 24.

Examples of two alternate flexed positions A and B of the yieldableportion 56 of the spring are shown in broken lines in FIG. 4, andcorrespond to the two brokenline outline positions of the deflectorscorrespondingly identified. As may there be seen, the spring is shapedso that as the loop is urged to successively higher positions bymovement of the deflector, the yieldable portion flexes intoprogressively tighter arcs. Throughout this movement the loop ridesagainst the inner face of the vertical leg 52 of the fixed portion ofthe spring. The position of the loop in the front lower corner of theniche, as shown in solid lines, corresponds to its location when thedeflector is in either its vertical or horizontal position. Thedeflector may also be tilted backwardly to a limited degree beyond avertical position to permit the installation or removal of a decorativefacing panel by sliding it upwardly into channels extending along thetop and end edges of the front face of deflector main wall portion, asdisclosed in the Wegman copending application.

The friction between the circumference of the loop 58 and the leg 52 ofthe spring, coupled with the frictional engagement of the bottom edge ofthe deflector main wall portion 36 against the top face of the bottomwall 24 of the outlet may, in many cases, provide adequate resistance tomovement of the deflector in any of its suggested positions. However,the provision of a separate leaf spring 64 carried by each end wall 14and 16, and having its convex side frictionally bearing against therespective facing end of the deflector further ensures stability of thedeflector in any of its adjusted positions. Accordingly, the inner faceof the end wall 14 is shown with a short grooved recess 66 which carriesthe leaf spring 64 so that the bight of the spring engages the end ofthe deflector.

The force exerted by the ribbon spring as it is moved upwardly bytilting the deflector includes a forwardlydirected component as well asthe downwardly-directed component ensures that the deflector pins 62will be effectively guided in their travel in a vertical direction alongthe forward side of the niche.

The springs are preferably made from a noncorrosive material such asstainless steel. The deflector pivot pins are substantially freelyrotatable in the loops which carry them and accordingly the main area ofwear during movement of the deflector is between the loop and the faceof the vertical leg 52 of the spring. Since these are of a material suchas stainless steel any such wear may be neglected.

Having described my invention 1 claim:

1. In a room air conditioner having a conditioned air outlet bounded atits opposite ends by end walls and at its bottom by a bottom wall, andhaving a vertical air deflector in the outlet including a maindeflecting panel and pivot-pin-carrying ends, the improvement of anarrangement for mounting said deflector for tilting movement from saidend walls, comprising:

means defining a recess in the inner face of each end wall of saidoutlet; and

a ribbon spring in each recess, each said spring including asubstantially fixed portion having a contour following a part of theperiphery of said recess, and a yieldable portion extending in the formof an arc and terminating in a loop adjacent the front vertical side ofsaid recess, said loop receiving said pivot pin projecting from the endof said deflector, said spring being so disposed that said loop isyieldable in an upward direction along said front vertical side of saidrecess with said yieldable portion flexing into a tighter are upon saidmovement and correspond ingly urging said loop downwardly.

2. In a room air conditioner according to claim 1:

said recess is generally rectangular in outline;

said spring fixed portion includes a vertical leg extending upwardlyalong the front side of said recess, and a horizontal leg extendingrearwardly along the top side of said recess, and said yieldable portionextends generally diagonally from the rear top corner to the frontbottom corner in a downwardly-bowed arc, with said loop having aposition adjacent said front bottom corner when said yieldable portionis in a substantially unstressed condition.

3. In a room air conditioner according to claim 1:

a bowed leaf spring between each end wall of said outlet and therespective deflector end, said spring having its bight frictionallyengaging said deflector and for stabilizing said deflector.

4. In a room air conditioner:

a conditioned air outlet having end walls and a bottom wall;

a tiltable deflector for controlling the vertical direction of the airdischarged out of said outlet, said deflector being pivotally connectedat its ends to said outlet end walls;

said pivotal connection at each end including a recessed, formed, ribbonspring including a fixed portion bearing against said outlet end walls,and a bowed flexing portion having a loop at its free end, said springbeing disposed for movement of said loop in a substantially verticaldirection effected by selectively tilting adjustment of said deflector,said spring exerting a downwardly-directed force upon said deflector toincrease the frictional engagement along the line of contact betweensaid deflector and said outlet bottom wall.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,035,421 5/1962Halbeisen 62-262 X 3,252,398 5/1966 First 98-94 X 3,264,971 8/1966Dangauthier 9840 X FOREIGN PATENTS 1,168,043 4/1964 Germany.

MEYER PERLIN, Primary Examiner.

M. A. ANTONAKAS, Assistant Examiner.

4. IN A ROOM AIR CONDITIONER: A CONDITIONED AIR OUTLET HAVING END WALLSAND A BOTTOM WALL; A TILTABLE DEFLECTOR FOR CONTROLLING THE VERTICALDIRECTION OF THE AIR DISCHARGED OUT OF SAID OUTLET, SAID DEFLECTOR BEINGPIVOTALLY CONNECTED AT ITS ENDS TO SAID OUTLET END WALLS; SAID PIVOTALCONNECTION AT EACH END INCLUDING A RECESSED, FORMED, RIBBON SPRINGINCLUDING A FIXED PORTION BEARING AGAINST SAID OUTLET END WALLS, AND ABOWED FLEXING PORTION HAVING A LOOP AT ITS FREE END, SAID SPRING BEINGDISPOSED FOR MOVEMENT OF SAID LOOP IN A SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL DIRECTIONEFFECTED BY SELECTIVELY TILTING ADJUSTMENT OF SAID DEFLECTOR, SAIDSPRING EXERTING A DOWNWARDLY-DIRECTED FORCE UPON SAID DEFLECTOR TOINCREASE THE FRICTIONAL ENGAGEMENT ALONG THE LINE OF CONTACT BETWEENSAID DEFLECTOR AND SAID OUTLET BOTTOM WALL.